Pep Guardiola remained upbeat despite watching Manchester City's alarming slump in form continue with a 2-0 defeat at Juventus in the Champions League.
The Spaniard's side sit 22nd in the Champions League table and are at risk of missing out on the next stage of the competition with only two games left to play.
City have lost seven of their last 10 matches across all competitions (W1 D2), as many defeats as they had suffered in their previous 105 matches combined (seven).
In fact, for the first time in his managerial career, Guardiola has failed to win three consecutive matches in the group/league phase of the Champions League (D1 L2). For the Citizens, meanwhile, it is their longest such run since the 2014-15 campaign (four - D2 L2).
"We played good, really really good," Guardiola told reporters. "So we missed the last pass, the last action, of course, some transitions happen, but I'm so proud of these players, they give everything, and they tried, and now we live in this period, and hopefully we can change and get results.
"I know it's difficult, it's difficult in the Champions League in Europe, but we play really good."
City's last two matches in the group phase are against Paris Saint-Germain and Club Brugge.
The competition's new format sees the top eight teams after eight rounds of the league phase advance into the round of 16 and avoid a playoff, which is now almost out of reach for Guardiola's team.
"We have two games. We need one point maybe, one victory, the last one is at home, and the situation is because the game against Feyenoord [when City gave up a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3] and especially Inter [a 0-0 draw]," the Spaniard added.
"But our three games away were really, really, really tough, and you have to accept it. And when we turn around, we don't forget that period, we appreciate more what we have done in the past, what they are going to in the future."
Since the start of November, City have conceded more goals across all competitions than any other team from Europe's big five leagues (21 in nine games).
They have also gone eight games without a clean sheet away from home in all competitions; the joint-longest such run of Guardiola's managerial career (also a run of eight in October 2016).
Unlike his manager, Ilkay Gundogan was left frustrated with the team's performance.
"Every attack we concede is so dangerous, and we are careless in the duels," Gundogan told TNT Sports.
"Instead of playing simple, we overcomplicate things by not timing things to pass the ball or release the ball.
"We lose balls in transition every time, giving them counter-attacks. We have to chase 60 metres back and that's not what we're built for. We are built for possession, to keep the ball and be strong. If you can't do anything in the duel, don't lose it, and it's not working out for us.
"We know exactly what is going wrong, we know the reasons. We haven't played bad. If you give away one chance, and they score, it's not easy to come back.
"It's obvious what is going wrong, it's just trying to find that switch to turn things around. Even if we're not getting the results, I don't think we're far off - which maybe sounds a little stupid, but that's what I feel.
"If we don't click, it's going to be tough. Only thing we can do is for every single individual to question themselves to do better, to sacrifice more and to contribute to the team so we can collectively get better."
Viktoria Plzen 1-2 Manchester United: Hojlund spares Onana's blushes
Manchester United fought back from Andre Onana's calamitous mistake as Rasmus Hojlund's double saw off Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in the Europa League.
Onana gifted hosts Plzen the lead in the 48th minute of Thursday's contest at Doosan Arena, when he passed straight to Pavel Sulc, who squared for Matej Vydra to tuck home.
Yet Onana's blushes were spared thanks to Hojlund, whose winner came in the 88th minute.
The Dane, who came on in place of the ineffective Marcus Rashford, was in the right place to tap in after Martin Jedlicka parried straight to him in the six-yard box.
And after Mason Mount had seen two attempts saved by Jedlicka, Holjund reacted sharply from Bruno Fernandes' clever free-kick to drill home the late winner.
Antony and Amad Diallo squandered opportunities for United to put the result beyond all doubt in stoppage time, but Ruben Amorim's team nevertheless got back to winning ways ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby.
Data Debrief: Amorim in good company thanks to hotshot Hojlund
Amorim is only the third United boss to win both of his first two matches in major European competition in charge of the club, after Matt Busby and Alex Ferguson.
That is largely down to the efforts of super-sub Hojlund, who has been involved in 50% of United's goals in the Europa League this season (6/12), with the forward scoring (four) or assisting (one) each of United's last five goals in the competition.
The Red Devils are now well placed to qualify for the last 16 of the Europa League, though Plzen were dreaming of a famous win when former Burnley forward Vydra put them ahead.
Vydra has scored three goals in the Europa League this season; only Michael Krmencik (four) and Marek Bakos (four) have netted more goals for Plzen in a single campaign of a major European competition.
Chelsea youngsters shrug off the cold to delight Maresca
Enzo Maresca sang the praises of his young players after Chelsea comfortably saw off Astana 3-1 in the Conference League in brutally cold conditions.
There was a reported temperature of -10 degrees Celsius in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, but that did not stop Maresca's side running out winners and confirming their spot in the last 16.
Marc Guiu opened the scoring on 14 minutes before an Aleksandr Marochkin own goal and Renato Veiga header had the Blues 3-0 up inside 39 minutes.
Marin Tomasov pulled one back for Astana before half-time but there was never any danger of a comeback.
Josh Acheampong, Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Tyrique George and Guiu all started the game, the first time four teenagers have done so in European competition for Chelsea, while several other youngsters appeared in the second half.
Maresca was delighted with the way they adapted to the harsh weather.
He said: "It was quite cold. The players did fantastically in the conditions after a long journey.
"All of the young players have done very well. I am very happy for them – and also the ones that came on in the second half.
"For sure in the future they can play more in the Premier League. They need to work hard to deserve the chance but they are doing very well."
Astana 1-3 Chelsea: Maresca's men secure qualification in freezing temperatures
Chelsea confirmed their spot in the last 16 of the Conference League by beating Astana 3-1 in bitterly cold conditions.
A temperature of -10 degrees was recorded in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where the match was hosted, but it did not bother the Blues.
Marc Guiu got the visitors off to a good start, dribbling inside from the right and firing into the net after 14 minutes.
Enzo Maresca's side doubled their lead via an Aleksandr Marochkin own goal four minutes later, before Renato Veiga's header made it three.
Marin Tomasov pulled one back for Astana just before the break, but it was never likely to be enough.
The Blues cruised through the second half with a serenity that summed up their progress in the competition so far, with Maresca able to hand opportunities to several youngsters.
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